Jeremiah j



UNITED STATES Patented February 23, 1904.

PATENT OEEIcE.

HELMET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 753,047, dated February23, 1904.

Application filed November 10, 1903. SerialNo.180,553. (N0 model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEREMIAH J. Cunrrs, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of NewJersey, have invented a new and Improved Helmet, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to head-gear, and has particular application tocertain novel and useful improvements in helmets or the like.

In carrying out the present invention I have specially in view as anobject the provision of an article of head-gear which shall be soconstructed as to embody the desirable features of lightness, comfort,and coolness.

As is well known, the helmets ordinarily worn by policemen, firemen, andsimilar public ofiicials are objectionable, especially in warm weather,on account of the weight and the difficulty in ventilating the same toattain coolness and comfort.

It is my aim, therefore, to overcome these difficulties; and toaccomplish this my invention consists in the construction, combination,and arrangement of parts as is described in this specification,illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and set forth in the annexedclaims. Y

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through ahelmet embodying my improvements, and Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectionalview taken substantially on the line 2 2- of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 5 designates thecrown portion of the hat or helmet, which is in the present instanceshown as constructed of straw, although such crown may be made of anysuitable light-weight material. The brim portion of the hat or helmet,which is shown at 6, inclines or extends downward in the ordinarywell-known manner and is formed of the same material of which the helmetis constructed. Heretofore great difiiculty has been experienced inmaking the brim of the 5 O helmet sufliciently light and at the sametime obtaining the rigidity necessary, and therefore it has beenimpossible to make such brim of straw: In ordeigtherefore, to stiffenand render the straw-brim 6 of my helmet rigid, I secure to the underside of said brim a plate of light metal for instance, aluminiumwhich isshown at 7, said aluminium plate being of the same shape and contour asthe brim itself, and it is secured to the latter through any desiredmeans, as by the stitches 8. For this purpose a number of thread holesor apertures may be formed in the aluminium brim, and, if desired, theouter face of the aluminium brim may then be covered with any suitablematerial, such as a layer of cloth or fabric, which forms a suitabletrimming and covering for the metal. The entire brim of the helmet,constructed, as it then is, of the straw, the aluminium, and the fabriccovering, is then bound around the outer edge with a binding of any wellknown sort, such as shown at 10, the cloth covering being indicated bythe numeral 9.

In order to secure the best possible ventilation for the helmet, thestraw at the lower or base portion of the helmet is woven with thestrips a considerable distance apart, as is shown at 11, so that the airmay pass freely through the same, and a band of corrugated material(shown at 12) is interposed between this open portion of the crown andan ordinary hat-band 13. It will thus be seen that the air may passfreely in through the open-work of the crown, and passing up alongsidethe corrugated strip may enter the crown of the helmet and cool thesame.

It will be noted that I have provided a helmet which will be foundexceedingly comfortable in warm weather, both on account of itslightness and the manner in which it is ventilated.

An especial advantage incident to stiffening the brim with the aluminiumis that the helmet may be made of straw or any light flimsy material, athing which has been heretofore impossible, because it has beendiflicult to stiifen the brim sufficiently.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. A helmet comprising a crown portion formed of strawor similar light material, a brim portion, and a stiffening-plate ofaluminium or the like connected to the under side of and extendingentirely around the brim portion.

2. A helmet comprising a crown portion, a brim portion, astiffening-plate of metal secured to the under side and extendingentirely around the brim portion and conforming to the shape andinclination of the brim, a fabric for covering the stiffening-platesecured to the outer face of the latter, a binding extending entirelyaround the outer edge of the brim and securing the fabric and the plate,and means for ventilating the helmet.

3. Ahelmet comprisinga crown portion and a brim portion, a metallicstiffening-plate for the brim, the crown portion adjacent to the brimhaving openings formed therein for the ventilation of the helmet, ahat-band secured within the crown portion, and a corrugated stripinterposed between the open-work portion of the crown and the hat-band.

4. Ahelmet comprising a crown portion and a brim portion, the lower partof the crown adjacent to the brim having openings therein for theventilation of the helmet, a corrugated band arranged to extend entirelyaround on the interior of the crown portion adjacent to the open-workportion, and a stiffening-plate of aluminium secured to the under sideof brim of the helmet.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JEREMIAH J. CURTIS.

Witnesses: v

R. B. OAVANAGH, J No." M. RITTER.

